Electric cigar-lighter.



PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1908.

E. P. ULLER.

ELECTRIC 0 AR LIGHTER.

APPLICATION FILE]? IEB. 4, 1907. -2 SHE S SHEBT 1' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1908.

B. P. MULLER. ELEGTRIG CIGAR LIGHTER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4, 1907.

ERNEST PL MULLER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC CIGAR-LIGHTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1, 1908.

Application filed February 4, 1907. Serial No. 355,756.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST P. MULLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electric Cigar-Lighters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electric cigar lighters and more particularly to electric devices for igniting the dips, the object being to provide the lighter with a series of spring contacts arranged in pairs, so that the dips will be surely ignited as they are drawn throug the same.

l/Vith this object in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing forming a part of this specification:Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved cigar lighter. Fig. 2 is a to plan view of the insulating plate removec. Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the spring contacts. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view illustrating the arrangement of spring contact plates.

In the drawings A indicates a rectangular shaped box having an inclined trunk and an upwardly projecting back, on the sides, ends and upwardly projecting back of which are mounted mirrors A so as to form a very neat appearing cigar lighter, but it is of course understood that the box can be formed of any design desired.

Secured in the corners of the box are strips A on the top of which is mounted a tray B provided with spaced openings B through which extend the upwardly projecting tubes C forming holders for reservoir C adapted to contain the inflammable liquid, the reservoir being supported in the box by spaced blocks D secured on the bottom D which flt within the box up against the ends of the strips A and is adapted to be secured therein by any suitable means. The reservoir C is provided with central partitions C so as to prevent the inflammable liquid from igniting it one of the lighted dips should be inserted when the other dip was removed.

Arranged on the tray B between the openings B is a strip of insulating material E provided with a central transverse rib E against which the angled ends F of duplicate metal plates F are adapted to fit, said plates being secured on the top of the insulating late E. These plates form braces for the rib which in turn forms a guide for the purpose hereinafter -fully described. It of course being understood that this rib can be formed separate from the insulating material E and inserted between the plates. Mounted on the plates F to each side of the angled ends F are oblong wooden blocks G on which are arranged brass distributing plates H having angled ends H which extend down over the adjacent sides of the block against the plates F.

Secured on the angled ends of the plate H and extending above the up-turned end portions F of the plates F are a series of spring contacts I which also bear against the plates F and are arranged in pairs. Each contact consists of three flat springs of difl erent lengths riveted together at one end and secured to the rear end of the angled ends H of the plate H, the free ends of which are angled.

The free end portions of these springs curve inwardly and are above and out of contact with the portions F of the plates F. The plates II are provided with binding posts J to which are connected insulated wires K which extend down through openings formed in the tray and are connected to binding posts L secured in the back of the box, to which the current supplying wires M are connected which extend out through an opening formed in the back and are adapted to be connected to batteries or any other suitable supply, so that the current will be normally in an opened circuit.

Mounted on the upper edge of the box is an insulating top N provided with spaced openings through which extend the ends of the tubes C of the reservoir C, in which are mounted dips O provided with flanged lower ends 0 in which is secured absorbent material forming wicks which are adapted to become saturated with the inflammable liquid. A slot N is formed in the insulating top N over the contact I through which the clips are adapted to be inserted so as to ignite the wicks.

The operation is as follows When it is desired to light a cigar one of the dips is removed from the holder and inserted through the slot of the top until it engages the spring contacts I where they are connected together. It is then drawn quickly forward between the contacts jumping from one pair of inwardly curved ends to the other and being supported by them out of engagement with the upturned angled ortions F of the plates F and the circuit will be broken by each pair as it passes over the same so as to make a spark and ignite the Wicks in the dip.

It will be readily seen that if the spark of the first pair of contacts fail to ignite the wick of the dlp, the second or third pair are sure to ignite the same, so that it is almost impossible to draw the tip between the contact without igniting the same.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure is 1. In an electric cigar lighter, the combination with a pair of electrically connected spaced distributing plates, of a series of spring contact points arranged in pairs, each pair of spring contacts being secured at one end to the plates first mentioned, respectively, the free end portions of said spring contacts curving inwardly and above the adjacent edges of said plates, and a dip movable between said contacts, and being u held during said movement by the free en portions of said contacts.

2. In an electric cigar lighter, the combination with a strip of insulating material provided with acentral rib forming a guide, plates arranged on said strip provided with angled ends bearing against said ribs, wooden blocks arranged on said plates, electrically connected distributing plates arranged on said blocks provided with angled ends eXtending down over the adjacent ends of said blocks against said plates, a series of spring contacts arranged 1n pairs secured to the rear ends of the angled ends of said distributing plates, and a dip adapted to be drawn over and through said contacts.

3. In an electric cigar lighter, the combination with a pair of spaced insulated angled end plates the angled end forming a guide, of distributing plates arranged on said plates, a series of oppositely arranged plate-spring contacts arranged in pairs and connected to said distributing plates, and a dip ada ted to travel on said insulating material an engage said contacts.

ERNEST P. MULLER.

Witnesses ALBERT COHN, JACOB GROSS. 

